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TL;DR: After pulling off an impossible heist, Kaz Brekker and his crew are double-crossed by the merchant Jan Van Eck, who kidnaps Inej and refuses to pay. Back in the city of Ketterdam, the crew is hunted by gangs, merchants and foreign powers. With few allies and fading luck, Kaz plans a series of cons to rescue Inej, get their money and take revenge.
Table of Contents
Crooked Kingdom at a Glance
| Author | Leigh Bardugo |
| First published | 2016 |
| Type | Fantasy |
| Best for | readers who want a twisty fantasy heist with a found family of misfits |
Crooked Kingdom is the sequel to Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, published in 2016. It completes the duology set in the Grishaverse. Below you will find a part-by-part summary, five key takeaways, ideas worth remembering and a note on who will enjoy it.
Content note: Includes violence, torture, addiction, death and trauma from past abuse.
Main Characters
- Kaz Brekker: A brilliant, ruthless young criminal leader.
- Inej Ghafa: A skilled spy known as the Wraith.
- Jesper Fahey: A sharpshooter with a gambling problem.
- Wylan Van Eck: A merchant's son with a talent for chemistry.
- Nina Zenik and Matthias Helvar: A Grisha and a former witch hunter in love.
What Happens, Part by Part (Contains Spoilers)
Betrayal
The crew returns to Ketterdam after rescuing Kuwei, a boy who knows how to make jurda parem, a drug that makes Grisha incredibly powerful but addicted. Van Eck kidnaps Inej to force Kaz to hand over Kuwei. Kaz refuses to give up and makes a dangerous plan to rescue her from Van Eck's guards.
The rescue
Kaz stages an elaborate swap with Van Eck and, through a clever trick, gets Inej back. But Van Eck turns the city against them, framing Kaz for kidnapping and murder. Gangs and police hunt the crew. Kaz must find money, allies and a way to bring Van Eck down. Each member of the crew has a role to play.
Secrets
Wylan, disowned by his father, plans to help ruin him. The crew rescues Wylan's mother, whom Van Eck had locked away in an asylum to remarry. Jesper faces his father, who has come to Ketterdam to pay off his son's debts. Nina, still recovering from parem, struggles with her cravings and her powers.
The auction
Kaz arranges a public auction for Kuwei, inviting foreign powers to bid. Meanwhile, he plans revenge on Pekka Rollins, the gang boss who cheated Kaz and his brother when they were children. Kaz tricks Rollins into believing his son is in danger. As the plan unfolds, the crew is ambushed, and Matthias is shot and killed, breaking Nina's heart.
Endgame
Kaz exposes Van Eck's crimes, and the crew wins back its money in a clever final trick. Wylan inherits his father's fortune. Inej gets a ship to hunt slavers. Kaz forces Rollins to say his brother's name and leave the city. Nina takes Matthias's body home to his land. Kaz and Inej take a small step toward trust, holding hands for the first time.
5 Key Takeaways
- Found family can be stronger than blood.
- Revenge has a cost.
- Trust takes time to build.
- Cleverness can beat power.
- Healing from trauma is slow.
Ideas Worth Remembering
These are paraphrased, not direct quotes:
- Everyone has a weakness and a strength.
- Losing a friend changes everyone.
- Even the toughest people need connection.
Who Should Read Crooked Kingdom?
Read Crooked Kingdom if you loved Six of Crows and enjoy heist stories, misfit crews and emotional twists. It suits teens and adults.
About Leigh Bardugo
Leigh Bardugo (born 1975) is an Israeli-born American author. Her Grishaverse books include the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology and the King of Scars duology. Netflix adapted her world in the series Shadow and Bone. She also wrote the adult novel Ninth House and The Familiar.
Questions to Think About After Reading
These prompts work for solo reading, a book club or a classroom discussion of Crooked Kingdom:
- How does Kaz's past shape his choices?
- Why is Matthias's death so powerful?
- How do the characters grow by the end?
How to Use This Summary
Use this page as a quick reference before a book club meeting, an exam, or a decision about whether Crooked Kingdom is worth your time. The takeaways are written to stand on their own. If a point interests you, go back to the book for the author's full story, characters and style, which no short summary can replace.
A Note on Accuracy and Spoilers
This summary is based on the published text of Crooked Kingdom, not on any film, series or stage adaptation, which often change the story. Details are kept at the level of the main events so that nothing is invented. Editions differ slightly in length and wording, so page numbers and small details may vary between copies.
Should You Read the Book?
Yes. It is a satisfying, emotional conclusion to the duology.
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What to Read Next
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: the first book of the duology
- The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch: another fantasy crew of con artists
- The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi: a heist crew in a magical world
Related: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: Summary and Key Takeaways · Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Crooked Kingdom about?
Kaz and his crew fight back after being betrayed by a powerful merchant.
Who wrote it?
Leigh Bardugo, in 2016.
Is it a sequel?
Yes, to Six of Crows.
Who is Kaz Brekker?
A young criminal genius who leads the crew.
What is jurda parem?
A drug that boosts Grisha powers but causes addiction.
Who dies?
Matthias Helvar.
Does Inej get a ship?
Yes, to hunt slavers.
Is there a TV adaptation?
Parts of the story appear in Netflix's Shadow and Bone.
What age is it for?
Teens and adults.
How long is it?
About 560 pages.
Do I need to read Six of Crows first?
Yes.
Do Kaz and Inej get together?
They take a first step toward trust.
Is it set in the same world as Shadow and Bone?
Yes. Both are part of the Grishaverse, though you can read this duology first.
Is Crooked Kingdom worth reading?
It depends on what you want. The book is best for readers who want a twisty fantasy heist with a found family of misfits. If that describes you, it is likely a good fit. If not, the titles under What to Read Next may suit you better.